The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-03-03

4
subjects which come before you, ash
for space in your paper for the follow
ing statements: This do because thu
columns of no party paper give the
opinions of the leading thinkers of The
nation, that is no paper that is wholly
a party organ does so. Your reader:
are not confined to- Republicans
many Democrats and others read it. II
is, therefore, but just, it seems to me
that the people should be as fully and
| fairly informed on the merits of Ques-
tions as possible, that they may be
! qualified to form an opinion, without
prejudice, and then act according to
their most correct judgment. The
Constitution defines the duties of the
] nations officials, and the officers are
| sworn to be true and faithful in their
| discharge. Why then condemn the
President for doing his duty as he under
stands it? No man has right to ac-
cuse or believe him guilty, thus far in
his administration. Without further
remarks will quote few lines from
the Congressional Record, which gives
the spirit and reason why of the veto.
1t says.
Recent personal observation and ex-
periences conStrain me to refer to
another result which will inevitably fol-
low the the passage of this bill. 1t is
| sad, but nevertheless true, that al
ready in the matter of approving PEN
siOns there exists a widespread disre-
gard of truth and good faith, stimu-
lated by those who as agents
undertake to establish claims for PEN
sions, heedlessly entered upon by the
expectant beneficiary, and encouraged,
or at least not condemned, by those I'M
willing to obstruct a neighbours plans.
| In the execution of this proposed law,
under any Interpretation, a wide field
of inquiry would be opened for the es-
tablishment of facts largely within the
knowledge of the claimants alore; and
there can be no doubt that the race
after the pensions offered by this bill
would not only stimulate weakness and
pretended incapacity for labor, but put
forth premium on dishonesty and
mendacity. The effect of new invita-
lions to apply for pensions, or of new
advantages added to causes of pensions
already existing is something startling. y
Now, sir, you know that while this
bill was being discussed i'll Congress
newspaper men were active, in strong
language, if not threats. saving that if
| it was not vetoed, Mr.. Cleveland's can
| didature would be spoiled. That he is
not Indifferent to the distinguished
honor he enjoys will be believed. To be
the President of the United States is an
honor that any man might desire. The
loss OF honor, place, power, not to men,
ton salary, was kept before him in the
event of him vetoing the bill, but he
was true to his convictions, and regard
less of honors in the future he vetoed
the bill. am not advocating OF COM
batting what he did. And there is no
man who ranks me in good will for
the defenders of our country.
What l do is simply to bring upward
of hundred different opinions before
your readers from as many journalists
of our. leading papers, that they may
see that the President is not alone in
his opinion of the rightness of his act.
Before doing so, let me quote from the
Pittsburgh Dispatch of February, 18th.
1t says, The last meeting of the Grand
Army of the Republic declared that if
the nation had made any error in the
matter of PENSIONS it has been on the
side of lavish liberality.' the Presi-
dents veto is likely to arouse general
commentator"
Surely, that which the G.. A. r. ex-
pressed should have more weight than
half a dozen of its lodges. There are
now on my table one hundred and four
different opinions on the veto, of which
As are Republican-39 DemocTatic-l9
Independent. OF the first named, 1S
agree with the President, and of the
last, Is e.lso agree. Striking out the
Democratic opinions, there are SO Re-
publican and Independents who are on
the side of the veto. And when the
standing of the concuTTing journals is
considered their opinions must have
weight.
The New York Mail and Express,
Republican, in commenting on the De-
pendent Pension Bill and the Mexican,
says. Both were vicious, and both
should have been vetoed"
The Minneapolis Tribune, Republi-
canaan, says. Too much stress cannot
be laid upon the fact that this Objec-
origin to the Grand Army men
or the ex-soldiers. ~ We believe
that they win very generally approve
the veto and commend, as sound, the
extended argument which accompanied
the returned bill.''
The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette,
(Republican), says: The objection to
the bill was that it opened the door for
vast abuses
The Rochester Herald, tRepublican),
says: 1.-The country has been both just
and generous with the soldiers; they
already have pensions such as no other
soldiery on earth was ever given. 1t is
with lavish hand that aid has been
melted out to them. 1t is now time to
STOP" etc.
The Philadelphia North American,
tRepublican), says: 1T was not 1.-THE
bill measure fit to be enrolled on our
wanted it to pass, and most of them
boldly voted for it, but after all they
will, for the most part, be relieved by
the veto.''
The Philadelphia Press, (Republican),
says: The pension business has been
Overdone. This everlasting passing
around the hat for the soldiers is doing
much to lessen the high esteem in which
they are justly held and to tarnish the
field of battle. We believe that the
better class of soldiers do not approve
of it,
The Philadelphia Bulletin, (Republ-
cam, says: THE message is a direct,
logical document, questioning very
properly the wisdom of adopting the
service pension principle, and exposing
the faulty construction of the bill"
The Washington Gazette, Republican,
says: For writing the word veto
across the face of the Dependent Pen
sion Bill, the President is entitled to
the thanks of every real veteran who
served at the front during the late
war.
The Providence Journal, Republican:
1.-THE President has done the country a
good service, and will get the credit for
his courage and patriotism from all
right thinking citizens irrespective of
party
The Buffalo Express, Republican.
Undoubtedly the country is with
him."
The Worcester Spy, Republican,
president Cleveland's reasons for de
Ginning to approve the Dependent Pen
sion Bill are sound and sufficient
| The Troy Times, Republican, ''It
was, indeed, the wisest act with which
the President can be credited during
his Administration this far
The Louisburg Commercial, Repub-
lican, president Cleveland has sent
the pension sharks valentine
The Philadelphia Telegraph, indie
pendent: The bill puts premium OF
perjury and laZiness and, taking it all il
all. it is one of the worst and most ut
terly excuseless bills that has ever beer